Read excerpts from the book "Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show." If you want to know more, you can watch the documentary that this book is based on online (it's also called "Showrunners").

Career

Learn what it's like to run a TV show.

Search for your favorite TV show and read one of the scripts. Even better if you watch that episode before, after, or even while you read it.

Read a script from your favorite TV show.

Remake part of a show or movie you like or come up with something new of your own. You can film on your phone or digital camera. Get practical experience in what it takes to produce and direct a film. 

Start a film project with your friends.

Writers

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

First Interest High-Point

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Second Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Writers and Editors

Writers and Authors

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Media and Communication Workers

Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.

Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.

Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly.

Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.

Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.

Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.

Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.

Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material.

Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.

Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.

Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.

Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works.

Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers.

Write humorous material for publication, or for performances such as comedy routines, gags, and comedy shows.

Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.

Computer laser printers

Laser facsimile machines

Personal computers

Tablet computers

Apple iWorks Pages

Ashley Software Writer's Blocks

AutoCrit Editing Wizard

Bare Bones Software BBEdit

Blogger

Contour Storyteller

Google Drive

Literature & Latte Scrivener

MasterWriter

Microsoft Word

OpenOffice.org

Power Structure

Ravenshead Services WriteItNow

Red Sweater MarsEdit

RoughDraft

ScriptPerfection Power Writer

Storymind StoryWeaver

Text to speech software

Tumblr

WhiteSmoke

WordPress

Write Brothers Dramatica

WriteWay Pro

Writer/Producer

<p>The Roadtrip team arrives to Los Angeles to interview Larry Weintraub, co-founder of Fanscape. Next the team interviews freelance photographer Jeremy Weiss and Jill Soloway, writer and producer of HBO's Six Feet Under.</p>

Los Angeles

Gosh, I hope I can make this interesting. >> [LAUGH] >> That's pretty interesting. >> Give us the run down. >> I went to college. I went to Madison. When I went to college, I thought that I wanted to go into advertising. >> Okay. >> That was the plan. Hello. [LAUGH] This is my son, Isaac, who's six. >> [LAUGH] >> Look at the face. He lost a tooth. Two days ago.[LAUGH.] So I was working at an advertising agency, working in production. I didn't really know what I wanted to do. And then I decided that I didn't want to do advertising anymore, and that I wanted to do something in TV of production of movies, or something like that. And so I was working at this documentary film production company in Chicago. And then on the side my sister and I were doing something that was just like something that's totally from our hearts, which was we love the TV show, the Brady Bunch, so much. That was our favorite show, and like one point seriously I was asking a friend of mine like I don't know what to do with my life, and he's like, what do you care about? And I was like, The Brady Bunch. [LAUGH] >> It's all I could think of. >> [LAUGH] >> And we watched it and it was like our favorite joke. >> Yeah. >> To me. Like we would quiz each other on the details of it, and make fun of it constantly, and it was the only thing that was funny to me or interesting to me. So we did this stage play where we took like all our friends who were actors, and got them all costumes and wigs and just did and episode of the Brady Bunch. Just put an episode of the Brady Brunch. It was, oh my nose I think, when Marcia gets hit in the face with a football on a stage as a play. Basically because we wanted to see that, because it was funny for us to imagine what it would look like to see our friends in those wigs, saying those lines. And watching it like a play in a theater, like it's important. Treating it like it was important. And it was hilarious. And it was so funny. And we weren't doing it for the money. We weren't doing it for the anything. I was working my job in production, trying to work my way up. And this was just like, this will make us laugh more than anything. And it ended up being this huge, huge, huge, huge thing, where like tons of people started coming, and it became like this cult thing, and hundreds and thousands of people came to the theater to see it. It was just like this insane moment of like, what happened, what did we create, you know? And the fact that we created it, not from trying to make money, or not from trying to do anything other than satisfy ourselves by laughing at our own friends. Was such a huge lesson that I've had to learn over, and over and over and over again in my life as a writer. It's like forget about what sells. Forget about what will make you famous. Just do what makes you feel good, what makes you happy, and success always follows that. Even though the Brady bunch was kind of a success, I was writing sitcoms. But getting down the path of like. Getting on that path of like, ugh I hate this, I'm just doing this for money. And then I wrote a short story. It's just like this really crazy monologue about being in L.A. and being the assistant to Courtney Cox. Totally made up, totally insane. Totally just to see my friend get on stage and say these things out loud in front of an audience. Like that was my motivation, I want to see Becky say these things out loud in front of an audience. I would show it to people and they would all say, this is the best thing I ever read. So I sent it to this literary journal called Zuzuba, and he printed it. My agent sent it to Alan Baugh who runs Six Feet Under, and he loved it and I got hired on that show. From that horrible Nicky talk show. That horrible Nicky talk show. >> [LAUGH] >> The most horrible television show. All the way to like the best just from doing something. Like I had to learn that lesson one more time in my life. Like don't try and do anything other than what satisfies your own sense of what's funny or what's good. >> Yes. >> I mean, it doesn't have to be when people say what are your interests, I don't think you have to think. >> You know. >> Filter them into career paths. >> Yeah. Just what actually makes you feel good, what makes you happy, even if it's something stupid. >> Right. >> Yeah, that's the thing, it's like being honest with yourself. >> Mm-hm. >> About what you like. >> Right, right. >> You know? Cuz like if someone asked me like, what do you like? I wouldn't wanna say like the Brady Bunch, even if, you know? >> Right. >> But once you admit that to yourself and you're just like, okay, I'm gonna do that. >> Right. >> That's what it is. >> I know. >> It's like what you were saying. >> It's so crazy. >> It's like what you were saying yesterday about being a photographer. Once you admit it to yourself, then you can do it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Like I do photographer, and it like a late blooming thing. I've always written. And then I was like, oh, photographs might be cool too. All these kids in my school have been doing photography for like, all these years. They have like, all this equipment, and it's just a matter of saying to myself like, I can do that, too. Like, I'm a photographer just as much as like, they're photographers, you know? It's all just a matter of declaring it to myself. 

Fulfillment

Honesty

Passion

Values

Interview

So we did this stage play where we took all of our friends who are actors, and got them all costumes and wigs, and just did an episode of The Brady Bunch. Just put an episode of The Brady Bunch, it was Oh My Nose, I think, when Marsha gets hit in the face with a football, on a stage, as a play. Basically because we wanted to see that, because it was funny for us to imagine what it would look like to see our friends in those wigs saying those lines and watching it like a play in a theatre. Like it's important, treating it like was an important drama. And it was hilarious and it was so funny, and we weren't doing for the money, we weren't doing it for the anything. I was like working my job in production trying to work my way up and this was just like this will make us laugh more than anything. And it ended up being this huge, huge, huge thing where like tons of people started coming and it became like this cult thing and hundreds and thousands of people came to the theater to see it. It was like this insane moment of like, what happened? What did we create? And the fact that we created it not from trying to make money and not from trying to do anything other than satisfy ourselves by laughing at our own friends. Was such a huge lesson that I had to learn over, and over, and over again in my life as a writer is what forget about what sells. Forget about what will make you famous. Just do what you makes you feel good, what makes you feel happy, and success always follows that. 

Forget About What Sells

[LAUGH] Wrote a short story called Courtney Cox's [INAUDIBLE]. >> [LAUGH] >> It's just this crazy kinda monologue about being in LA and being an assistant to Courtney Cox. Totally made up, totally insane, totally just to see my friend get on stage and say these things out loud in front of an audience. That was my motivation. I wanna see Becky say these things out loud in front of an audience. I was showing to people and they would all say this is the best thing I've ever read. So I sent it to this literary journal called Zyzzyva and they printed it, and my agent sent it to Allen Ball who runs Six Feet Under. And he loved it, and I got hired on that show. From the horrible Nicky Cox show, the most horrible Nicky Cox show. The most horrible television show, all the way to like the best TV show. Just from doing something, like I had to learn that lesson one more time in my life. I'm like don't try and do anything other than what makes you, what satisfies your own sense of what's funny or what's good or like that. 

What Satisfies You

So I was working at like an advertising agency, working in production, didn't really know what I wanted to do. I decided I didn't wanna do advertising anymore and thought that I wanted to do something in TV or production or movies... or something like that. And so I was working at this documentary film production company in Chicago, and then I wrote a short story. It's just like this really crazy kind of monologue about being in L.A. and being the assistant to Courteney Cox. Totally made up, totally insane. I would show it to people, and they would say, "This is the best thing I've ever read." So I sent it to this literary journal called ZYZZYVA and he printed it, and my agent sent it to Alan Ball, who runs Six Feet Under, and he loved it, and I got hired on that show. I had to learn that lesson one more time in my life, of like, "Don't try and do "anything other than what makes you," you know, "what makes you--what satisfies your own sense of what's funny "or what's good or all that stuff." 

Jill Soloway Highlight

These last five years that you've really felt like you had to write and it was what was kinda driving you, what changed? Was it just that you got in the routine of doing it or did you really develop- &gt;&gt; No, when I wrote Courteney Cox's And I realized that my most natural voice, my own internal voice of my own comedic thing, was worth something to somebody. &gt;&gt; Right. &gt;&gt; That it was actually effortless to write well for me. But the effort was in writing badly. &gt;&gt; Right. &gt;&gt; And that's why I didn't to be a writer, cuz I didn't know if I could do it. When I found out that what came most naturally to me was actually considered good writing. &gt;&gt; Right. Then I thought, I'm a writer. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Up until then, I was like, I'm a bad writer. Because I can't do this thing I'm supposed to be doing? &gt;&gt; Really? &gt;&gt; But once I realized that, if you guys read it, you can go online and read it. And you'll see it's like your head voice. It's like the voice you would write to your best friend in. There's nothing, there's no big words in it. There's no beautiful turns of phrase. It's just a really funny parody of a really stupid girl. 

Confidence

Doubt

Oh, I'm A Writer

You found something you love, you did it, and you were successful. So, basically, we ask for kind of a word of advice for three 21-year-old kids who don't necessarily know what they wanna do or have the means to do it yet, but advice to help us along. &gt;&gt; I don't know. I can give advice for people who wanna do creative things, cuz I know I have advice about that stuff, but- &gt;&gt; Go ahead. Anything helps. Anything? &gt;&gt; I don't know. I think always strive for honesty. And not only in what you make, but in your view of yourself and the world, I guess. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Something like that. I don't know. &gt;&gt; Definitely. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; That's very good. &gt;&gt; Absolutely. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Maybe. I don't know. What do you think? Do you have any advice for 21 year olds? &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] 

Word of Advice

But the thing I would tell everybody who comes out here now who says, I wanna be a TV writer, should I? What should I do? How should I do this? I always encourage everybody to be a writer first, like to not write trying in the TV business but to write a short story or an essay or write a play or write a short film, or just write something. And then make it so rather than trying to write a spect script, write a play. Especially if you're in L.A., get a bunch of actors. They're all over the place. There's some in the yard right now. Give them the thing. Look at it. Watch them read your lines. Decide if you've written something good or not. If you haven't, change it. 

Hobbies & Pastimes

Getting Into The Industry

We spoke with Jeremy Weiss, who's a photographer. And we were asking them about if he at all compromises or tries to attain a certain style. Because I mean certain things sound certain things don't. What you want to do may not sell as much as other things. And he was like, you know what, I don't even worry about that. I do what makes me happy, and you said it yourself. &gt;&gt; Yes that same thing, it's the same thing. You have to. &gt;&gt; So is that, like, what motivates your writing, like when you're writing for shows and stuff? I mean, is it a similar thing? &gt;&gt; Yeah, I try to, with Six Feet Under, I try to write scenes that ring true. That people can watch and go, yes, that's the way I feel. That represents honestly. I think in the same way that when people communicate, in the exact same way that you say something, and then he goes, you're funny. I think what you just said is funny. He laughs at what you say, and then you feel more alive and you feel more alive for that moment that you felt the same way. You shared that moment. I feel the same way about writing. If I can write a scene that makes people feel I feel that, too. I've said that, too. I've been there, too. But I never, ever see that on TV, it's so cool to see that on TV, you know? That's what motivates me, to try to tell the truth. I especially try to do that for women and for girls. Because I feel like girls are so defined by what guys think of them. And what men think of them. And that it's, look at that, these girls are what defined by what men think of them. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] There's so many. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] And how much are men paying for it. These girls are defined by how many. But so just being a woman and telling the truth about my experience is to me enough, it's more than enough, because nobody ever does it. 

Jill Soloway

Writer/Producer

Videos

Jill Soloway

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Television

Writing

Being Creative

Interviewed By

Destination Unknown